Friday, November 10, 2006

Beam Me Up Scotty

Gerard Kennedy had a major speech at Ryerson today where he outlined the Enterprise theme he's been pushing this campaign. A lot of the specifics outlined were things he's already talked about but it's nice to see the many ideas Gerard has thrown out there all tie together. I could go into a long recap but Gavin Neil was there and he does a much better job of recapping the speech and the crux of the argument so go read his blog.

I don't trust Kennedy when it comes to anything to do with business, the reason is that he doesn't understand economics and the free market. I don't think he's ever worked in a private sector job, or knows first hand the complex problems that companies face. He's far too socialist.

Social programs and government spending will do nothing to increase the health of our business sector. What we need is less government, elimination of the corporate and dividend taxes, and fewer regulations.

For example, Kennedy says he wants more "angel investors," the way to do that is by cutting taxes so they can make more money. He wants more private sector R & D, you cut taxes so companies have more money to invest. If the money is there, the people will come.

Since (I think) he has never worked in the private sector before, or has any expierience in private sector top level management, I don't see how he could possibly understand these issues.

Andrew; Kennedy ran the Toronto food bank for a decade. I believe they had something like a 30 million dollar a year budget and didn't get a cent of government aid. To me, that seems like pretty solid business experience - more so than any of the other top 4 to the best of my knowledge.

CG, you're right, better than the other top 4, but that's comparing him to people with no business expierence.

There is a big difference between running a non-profit organization with a 30-million dollar budget (peanuts in the corporate world) and a large corporation where they be hundreds of jobs that depend on the decisions you make and millions of your shareholders dollars at stake. This may sound mean, but when you're running a non-profit, you're not playing for keeps.

I don't trust Kennedy when it comes to anything to do with business, the reason is that he doesn't understand economics and the free market. I don't think he's ever worked in a private sector job, or knows first hand the complex problems that companies face. He's far too socialist.

How are you in any position to know what Kennedy does or does not understand? And anyway - Harper never held any private sector management positions, and being president of a right-wing lobby group doesn't count.

There is a big difference between running a non-profit organization with a 30-million dollar budget (peanuts in the corporate world) and a large corporation where they be hundreds of jobs that depend on the decisions you make and millions of your shareholders dollars at stake. This may sound mean, but when you're running a non-profit, you're not playing for keeps.

Indeed, but I see no reason why it has any bearing on suitability for government leadership. If running a big corporation was the best preparation for running a government, Martin would still be PM. In any case, Dion has ten years of cabinet experience, much of which was spent as President of the Privy Council. On the other hand, Rae knows a thing or two about making unpopular decisions and ran a province with thousands of employees. They didn't much like him, mind you.

I am not sure that you could classify Belinda as typical of a business candidate.

Most have some academic credentials or have demonstrated their acumen by building a business into a successful enterprise. The conservatives Michael Wilson would be a more typical example from the Mulroney era.

Canada's economy increasingly depends on being competitive in the world markets. Any future leader needs to have a good understanding of what it takes to foster a positive climate for investment and a sustainable economy.

A candidate focussed exclusively on social goals would be a concern. Certainly, hiring quotas and affirmative action policies would send the wrong message.

Sorry down and out, no one is buying your "just trying to be constructive" line.Yep, we all know you are voting for MHF and then for Dion. YOU ARE BIASED.

You come on CG's blog which you know is pro-Kennedy and you slam Kennedy. It is all one-sided. You are as obvious as snow is white.

Academic credentials mean zip. I have 5 degrees and this in no way qualifies me to be a politician. Kennedy has plenty of executive experience, longer than Dion. But wait, you will jump back on this blog and try to tell me how great Dion is and knock Kennedy.

Time for renewal in the Party. Out with the old guard and in with the new.

I have a hard time taking Andrew Smith seriously on this thread, to be honest. I don't have a particular choice among the candidates yet, and even I think you're running a smear job because you've got another candidate picked out. This whole race is getting so petty and childish - can it be over? Please?

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